Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-19
"The off mules unhitcht; jump on him an
skip he shouted to her as he vanished up the

"The off mules unhitcht; jump on him an
skip he shouted to her as he vanished up the
pike.
The Confederates were shooting down the
mules and such Transfers as remained. Some
dismounted, and with the axes each wagon
carried, chopped the spolies until the wagon
fell, while others ran along and started fires
in each. In little while five hundred wag-
ons loaded with rations, clothing, ammuni-
ton and stores We're blazing furiously. Their
work done, the cavalry rode off toward
Nashville in search of other trains
Rachel leaped from the wagon before the
CeaSederates approached and took refuge be-
hind a large tree, whence she saw her wagon
share the fate of the rest. When the cavalry
disappeared she came out again into the road
and walked slowly up it, debating what she
could do. She was rejoiced to meet her
teamster returning. lie had viewed the oc-
currcnce from prudent distance, and, being
kindly natured, had decided to return to her
help as soon as it could be done without risk.
lie told her that there was wagon up the
pike a little WAYS with a woman in it. to
which he would conduct her, and they would
go back to the army in front OF Murfrees-
boro.
1t seems case of 'twixt the devil and the
deep sea, he said dcspairingly. AT any rate
we can't stay out here, and my experience is
that it is always safest where there is the big
geSt crowd"
They found the wagon with the woman N
it. It's driver had bolted irrevocably, so
Rachel's friend assumed the reins. It was
slow work making their way back through
the confused mass, but Rachel was lucky
enough to sleep through most Of it. When
she awoke the next morning the wagon was
still on the pike, but in the centre of the
army, which filled all the open Space round
about.
Everywhere were evidences of the terrible
work OF the day before, and Of preparations
for renewing it, The soldiers, utterly ex-
hausted by the previous day frightful strain,
| lay around on the naked ground sleeping or
in half waking torpor.
An officer rode up to the wagon. There
seems to be some flour on this wagon said
the voice of DR. Denslow swell, that may
stay the boys stonachs until we can get some
thing better. Go on a little ways, driver"
20, Doctor Denslow," called out Rachel, as
the wagon stopped again, what is the
| news T.
You here again r said the doctor, recog-
nizing the voice, well. that is good news.
When heard about Wheelers raid on our
trains was terribly alarmed as TO your fate.
This relieves me much
But how about the rmy?'
Well, it seems to have been a case Of
hammer and anvil yesterday, in which both
suffered pretty badly, but the hammer got
much the worst of it. We are in good shape
| now to give them some more, il they want it,
which so far they have not indicated very
strongly. Here, Sergt Glen, is a ctuple
Of barrels of flour, which you can take to
issue out to your regiment"
Had not the name been called Rachel could
never have recognized her former elegant
lover in the stalwart man with tattered uni
form, swollen face, and head wrapped in a
| bloody bandage, who came TO the wagon with
! a squad to receive the -four.
A tumult of emotions swept over her, but
superior to them all was the feminine feeling
| that she could not endure to have Harry see
her i'll her present unprepoSsessing plight.
Don't mention my name before those
men, she said to DR. Denslow, when he came
near again.
very good, - he answered "Sit still in
the wagon and nobody will see you will
| have the wagon drive over to the hospital
| presently, with the remainder of the -four,
| and you can go along
| All the old love seemed to have been out at
| compound interest, from the increment that
| came back TO her at the sound of Harry
| Glen's voice, now so much deeper, fuller and
more maSterful than in the fastidious days of
yore She lifted the smallest corner of the
wagon cover and looked out The barrel
| heads had been beaten in with stones, and a
large cupful of -four issued to each Of the
hungry men They had mixed it up into
dough with water from the ditch, and were
baking it before the fire on large fiat stones,
which abounded in the vicinity.
"TIl mix up enough for all three of us on
this board, she heard Harry say to Abe and
Kent With your game arm, Kent, and
Ate's battered eyes your cooking skill's about
gone. You ought to both of you go TO the
hospital You can't do any good, and why
expose yourself for nothings I've mind to
use my authority as temporary commander.
| Of the regiment and send you to the hospital
under guard
| You try it if YOU dare, after Ely saving
| your life yesterday" said Abe. Il can see
well enough yet to shoot toward the Con-
| federates, and that's ali that's necessary"
| Il enlisted for the war said Kent, and
| I'm going to stay till peace is declared /
went into this fight to SEE it through, and I'm
| going to stay till We whip them if there's a
| piece Of he left that can viggle. Bragg's got
| TO acknowledge that I'm the best man before
III ever let up on HIM"
Rachel longed TO leap out of the wagon,
| and 90 the bread making for these clumsy
| fellows, hut pride would not consent.
The dough was browning slowly on the hot
stones, but not yet nearly done, when the
spiteful spirits Of firing out in front suddenly
| burst into a roar, with crash of artillery. A
| bugie sounded near.
Fall in, boys shouted Harry, springing
to his fee. and tearing of the flakes of dough,
which be hastily divided with his comrades.
| Right dress Right face, forward, file right
| -marrhl'
of there is anything that dcspise, its
| disturbing 4 gentleman at his meals said
Kent, giving the fire o spit1ful kick, as he
| tucked the bread under his lame arm, took his
MUS ct in his other hand and started OF in
the rear Of the regiment, accompanied by the
purblind Abe
| Rachel's heart sank, rs she saw them move
of, but It rose again when the firing died
down Us suddenly rs it had famed up.
Soon DR. Denslow took the wagon Off TO a
| cabin on a high bank Of Stone river, which
| be was using as a hospital.
She callld sa,nc question to him, as he